Merz ‘not giving up on working with Trump’ despite Iran war spat | Germany
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that he will not give up working with US President Donald Trump despite the debate between leaders about the war in Iran.
“I’m not giving up on working on the transatlantic relationship,” Merz told public broadcaster ARD in an interview to be broadcast Sunday night. “I’m not giving up on working with Donald Trump.”
Merz has sought to downplay any tensions with Trump, arguing, for example, that a sudden public announcement that the United States would withdraw 5,000 American troops from bases in Germany was not surprising and should not be seen as retaliation.
“It may be a little overrated, but it’s not new,” Merz told talkshow host Caren Miosga.
Criticism of the US-Israeli war against Iran by Merz and other European leaders clearly angered Trump. The latest rift came after Merz said on April 27 that Iran had “humiliated” Washington at the negotiating table.
This prompted a series of angry reactions from Washington, including Trump’s comments that Merz was doing a “terrible” job as chancellor.
Merz said on Sunday that the US military decision had “no connection” with the recent disputes.
The chancellor also confirmed that the planned deployment of US long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany, announced by former US president Joe Biden, had been cancelled, at least for now.
He cited the depletion of arsenals due to the wars in Iran and Ukraine as the reason for this.
“Americans don’t have enough power right now,” he said.
“Objectively speaking, the United States is unlikely to abandon such weapons systems.”
But he said “the train has not left” for possible future cooperation and that European NATO forces could continue to deter Russia without those missiles or U.S. forces.
Trump’s criticism of European leaders was not limited to Merz.
He has previously mocked British prime minister Kier Starmer, telling reporters on Thursday: “Italy has done us no good and Spain has been terrible, absolutely terrible.”
But Merz said that even as he criticized the U.S. handling of the conflict, he still shared Trump’s goal of ensuring Iran never acquires atomic weapons.
“We have a different perspective on this war. It’s not a secret,” Merz said in the interview. “I’m not the only one who feels this way.”
Merz said he respects Trump’s right to have different views, but “a little less so right now.”
“But that doesn’t change the fact that I remain convinced that the Americans are important partners for us, our most important partners in the North Atlantic alliance,” Merz said.
